1 Decodable Reading Passage
A short, decodable story embedding r-controlled — ear and eer words. Students read the passage then highlight all the target words.
Early one day, Rex hopped up the hill to munch on fresh grass. Pete sat down at the gate with his flute. Rex was his dear pet, and Pete liked to keep him near.
Then a thick fog came over the hill. It was white and cold, and it hid the path. Rex wanted to go home, but he could not see the way. He hopped one way and saw only fog. He hopped the other way and saw more fog. Rex sat still in fear. A tear ran down his nose.
Back at the gate, Pete could not see the hill at all. "Rex!" he called. "Where are you?" Rex did not come. "He did not hear me," Pete said. "But he might hear my flute." So Pete played a tune, and he played it again and again.
Up on the hill, Rex held up his long ears. He could hear a tune, far away but clear. "That is Pete!" Rex thought. He hopped a little way and stopped to hear it again. Rex steered by the tune, hop after hop, and it got more and more clear.
Soon the fog started to clear. Rex could see the gate, and Pete could see Rex. "There you are, my dear Rex!" Pete cheered. He picked Rex up and wiped the tear from his nose. "Now I know my flute can bring you home," Pete said.
This story is part of Level 4. Get all 42 Level 4 illustrated mini-books in one print-ready file ($14) →
2 Word Sort
Cut out the word cards and sort them into the correct columns: Says "ear" (hear, deer) vs EAR Says "er" (earth).
3 Phrasing Practice Cards
Practice reading these phrases for fluency. Cut out the cards and read them quickly and smoothly.
4 RAN Chart (Rapid Naming)
Read each word in the grid as quickly as you can. Time yourself and try to beat your best time!
5 Word Search
Find and circle the r-controlled — ear and eer words hidden in the grid. Words go across, down, and diagonally — a fun way to reinforce r-controlled — ear and eer word recognition.